FA's Noel Saw sit down with Sean Morris of Motorex for a quick chat…

FA: Give us some background on Motorex's and it's founders.

MOTOREX: We originally started off as automobile exporters to Japan. MotoRex was researching the path to importing vehicles to the US. After three years of Research & Development, the Skyline is legal for the US.

We are a small group of automobile enthusiasts, especially for high performance vehicles. Hiro Nanahoshi is the founder of the corporation. He has owned several high performance Japanese vehicles - from the FD to the GTO. The Skyline GT-R was his dream car for a number of years. His desire for the Skyline GT-R lead him to overcome the DOT and EPA barriers against importing vehicles not orginally certified for the US.

FA: Tell us about the first time you drove a Skyline.

MOTOREX: Hiro first drove a Skyline in 1992. He drove a R32 GT-R in Japan. The car he drove was slightly modified and compared to any other vehicle available in the US , there was nothing that could match the GT-R.

FA: Has Hiro competed in motorsports?

MOTOREX: Does street racing count as motorsports ?

FA: Ahhhh.

FA: Apparently Motorex and Nissan North America have communication lines, since you've received a Maxima for use as a project car?

MOTOREX: We have started to establish our relationship with Nissan NA. Yes we do have communication with some people within Nissan NA. We are not officially affiliated with Nissan NA. Other than the 2000 Maxima , we have no other affiliations.

FA: How's the Maxima project car coming along? What did you guys do to it?

MOTOREX: The Maxima is coming along. We had to wait for a few "special" parts for it. Sorry the details of the mods are "top secret." 

FA: Does that mean you guys will start selling Maxima parts? I take it all this will be revealed at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) aftermarket show?

Ummm , we may have some parts for Maximas. We are still deciding about how "one off" we want to do some of the things. The car will not actually make it to SEMA. It took us a little longer than anticipated to get some of the pieces. Look for it at the LA Auto Show and a few of the other upcoming import events.

FA: What was Nissan North America's reaction to your initial idea of importing Skylines?

MOTOREX: We assumed they liked the idea of having the Skyline in the US. We have spoken to several individuals within Nissan NA that liked the idea and like the GT-R , but because of legal issues , we are not officially associated with Nissan NA with anything related to the Skyline.

FA: Have you guys considered importing any of the traditional RWD Skyline 4-doors?.

MOTOREX: We are focusing on the GT-R version of the Skyline. Basically too many options just clouds our market too much.

FA: Do you guys have plans again to privately compete the Skyline in any other races like you recent victory at Pike's Peak?

MOTOREX: We have spoken to several owners that want to compete in Michelin's "One Lap of America" next year. Next year we will probably compete in Pikes Peak again. But overall we have no real plans to race , other than what we do personally.

FA: If I remember Car & Driver (organizers of "One Lap of America")  actually were one of the first American press to uncover the Skyline's existence a couple of years ago.

MOTOREX: I saw a R32 in the US in 1991. I had just came back from the Tokyo Auto Auction and I was on my way to pick up a new GMC Syclone in Pasadena. I had seen a lot of GT-R's when I was in Japan and here one was cruising in the fast lane on the 210 freeway. I later saw the car in Car and Driver magazine. It was a gunmetal R32. 

Come to think of it, I actually saw the first Skyline mentioned in the US in Autoweek from July 1990. It's a one page article in there on the GT-R.

FA: Where do you think the USA car market is going?

MOTOREX: The market is really diversified - SUV's, sedans , and sports cars. The number of actual sports car buyers will probably stay about the same. No
increase or decrease for now.

FA: Do you see a sports cars revival?

MOTOREX: No , because of impracticalities and items associated with emissions standards. The world is moving towards alternate powered vehicles and we don't see sports cars in any of those alternates. Sooner or later , only the rich will have the money to buy and maintain the sports car.

FA: How about the roadsters, Miata, Z3, CLK, and the most recent S2000?

MOTOREX: Most of the small Roadsters generally lack the power of other sports cars. Overall the Miata is very fun to drive and helped to change the modern definition of a roadster. We like the S2000 , but its lack of low end torque may not appeal to the US consumers . The US market has always liked torque motors - low reving engines.

FA: Do you think SUVs will remain a force in the marketplace?

MOTOREX: Yes , for at least the next 3 years we see them being the dominating force in the vehicle marketplace.

FA: Do you think in 20 years hybrid engines or electric cell vehicles will replace combustion engines?

MOTOREX: We hope not. I just saw a few Honda electric cars and S2000's recently. We are only about 1/4 mile away from Honda R & D. They were asking me questions about the GT-R.

FA: Do you predict that as fossil fuels become more expensive in the US, more European size "city cars" (Echo and Focus) will become prevalent?

MOTOREX: Not if US crash test standards keep up and increase the way they are now. With the small size of the cars and the side impact requirements - these smaller vehicles will have an extremely hard time passing.

FA: Are sales meeting your expectations?

MOTOREX: It is difficult for many people to believe that the GT-R is available in the S. Many people have talked about importing the GT-R and failed to accomplish it. We still get many calls and emails everyday , asking if they can buy a US legal GT-R. There are many still many people that do not know what a GT-R is.

FA: Whos your typical interested party?

MOTOREX: The people that are most interested in the Skyline are people within the automobile industry. People that work at the magazines , and within the
aftermarket.

FA: Do you guys have any plans to import other Japanese spec cars? Subarus Imprezas or Mistu Evos? Or even Nissan's Silvia?

MOTOREX: We are interested in importing the Mitsu Evo. By the year 2000 we should have ore specific information on the importation of the Evo.

FA: In the UK, there's a huge market for car importers. Do you see more companies beginning to import specialty cars in the US?

MOTOREX: There are a few companies already, but the process is very difficult in the US. For most cars rash testing , and extensive , and expensive EPA testing is required. In the UK they can get a single vehicle exemption.

FA: What cars are your daily drivers?

MOTOREX: Geo Metro Convertible, 73 orange pinto station wagon or actually Hiro has a 1992 300 ZX twin turbo , and a 1998 Skyline GT-R.

FA: I am sure when Hiro's driving around the South Bay in the Skyline he gets a lot of attention.

MOTOREX: I drive my GMC Syclone daily and sometimes GMC Typhoon ,when its together. Hiro also has a 1992 R32 GT-R waiting for me once I finally get one of my kidneys sold on eBay.

FA: What's a Syclone?

MOTOREX: Good question... It's an AWD , 280 hp pickup truck from GMC made in 1991 - only 3000 units made. GMC Typhoon - same thing but in a S-15 blazer body. My Typhoon is fairly modified. It runs the 1/4 in the high 11's. Best pass of 11.85 seconds.

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